Yarn ball retaining and dispensing device

ABSTRACT

Yarn ball retaining and dispensing device including a substantially spherical ball including a length of yarn and a display box for rotatably retaining the ball. To dispense the yarn, a free end of the yarn extends through an aperture defined by a yarn guide member arranged on the box and when pulled by the knitter, the yarn bail rotates in the box. The display box is defined by panels and includes a support system connected to side edges thereof for supporting the ball during its rotation. The support system includes male flaps and female flaps extending from side edges of alternating panels. Each female flap includes slots while each male flap includes tabs each extending through a respective slot of a female flap. The male and female flaps define support edges on which the yarn ball movably rests.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retaining and dispensing device which retains and dispenses a ball of filament, in particular, a ball of yarn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Yarn is typically sold in skeins and for use, is unwound from the skein by pulling a free outer end from a periphery of the skein. One common problem with unwinding yarn skeins in this manner is that they are likely to knot or tangle. Therefore, a knitter will often unwind the entire skein and rewind the yarn into a ball before beginning to knit with the yarn. The knitter can thus knit continuously from the yarn ball without having to stop to untangle knots. Continuous, uninterrupted knitting is advantageous since the knitter is better able to maintain substantially constant tension in the stitches throughout the knitted product.

Knitting from the yarn ball has several disadvantages. For example, when dropped, the yarn ball has a tendency to roll and the knitter often must then chase the yarn ball and rewind the length of yarn unwound during the ball's travel. Knitting from a yarn ball can also be inconvenient since the process of unwinding the yarn may cause the ball to roll away from the knitter.

Another disadvantage is that a yarn ball is an attractive play thing for pets. Since yarn is typically a relatively loosely-woven multi-ply material prone to snagging, pets playing with the yarn ball can easily damage exposed yarn causing snags. Snags in the yarn result in a flaw in the knitted product, and therefore are undesirable.

Thus, a device which retains a yarn ball and allows for easy dispensing of the yarn therefrom is desirable.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved retaining and dispensing device for a yarn ball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved retaining device for a yarn ball which rotatably supports the yarn ball and allows for easy dispensing of the yarn from the yarn ball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved display box capable of rotatably supporting a yarn ball.

In order to achieve these objects and others, a yarn ball retaining and dispensing device in accordance with the invention includes a substantially spherical ball comprising a length of yarn and a display box for rotatably retaining the ball. To dispense the yarn, a free end of the yarn extends through an aperture defined by a yarn guide member arranged on the box and when pulled by the knitter, the yarn ball rotates in the box. The yarn ball is securely retained in the box during its rotation to thereby prevent it from rolling away from the knitter.

The display box may be formed from a plurality of connected panels including a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel and a bottom panel. The yarn aperture is preferably formed in the front panel, which may also include a larger aperture which enables viewing of the yarn ball, which would be desirable to ascertain the color and/or pattern of the yarn upon purchase or use.

A support system is connected to side edges of the panels for supporting the ball during its rotation. The support system includes male flaps extending from side edges of two opposed panels and female flaps extending from side edges of two other opposed panels. Each female flap includes slots while each male flap includes tabs, each tab extending through a respective slot of a female flap. When engaged with one another, the male and female flaps combine to define support edges on which the yarn ball is rotatably supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a retaining and dispensing device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the display box of the retaining and dispensing device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view of the housing of the display box shown in FIG. 5 in an unfolded state.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a retaining and dispensing device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the display box of the retaining and dispensing device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view of the housing of the display box shown in FIG. 9 in an unfolded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same or similar objects, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a retaining and dispensing device 10 in accordance with the invention which includes a display box 12 and a ball of yarn 14 retained by the display box 12. Display box 12 is constructed to allow the yarn ball 14 to rotate as the yarn unwinds from the yarn ball 14 (as discussed more fully below).

Display box 12 comprises a housing 16, a handle 18 and a guide panel 20 for positioning the handle 18 (see FIG. 5). Housing 16 is formed from a substantially planar sheet 22 which is provided with fold lines 24 about which the sheet 22 is folded to provide the housing 16 with a three-dimensional form including a front panel 26, a rear panel 28, a top panel 30 and a bottom panel 32 (see FIG. 6). Front panel 26 includes a substantially circular aperture 34 through which the yarn ball 14 is visible.

Display box 12 also includes a yarn guide member 36 positioned in a circular aperture in the front panel 26. Yarn guide member 36 guides the passage of yarn from the yarn ball 14 out of the device 10, i.e., to the knitter (see FIG. 2). Yarn guide member 36 may be a plastic or metal grommet defining a circular aperture and having a shape approximately corresponding to the shape of the slot in the front panel 26. Yarn guide member 36 also has smooth inner surfaces to prevent snagging and fraying of the yarn as it passes therethrough.

Rear and bottom panels 28, 32 are solid. Top panel 30 includes an elongate slot 38 with a centrally located bulge.

A tab 40 extends from the rear panel 28, with a fold line 24 being formed therebetween, and an adhesive strip 42 is applied to the tab 40 so that when the sheet 22 is folded about fold lines 24, the tab 40 can be positioned against an inner surface of the bottom panel 32 and is then adhered thereto via the adhesive strip 42 to enable the housing 16 to obtain and maintain its three-dimensional form. Prior to manipulation of the sheet 22 into its three-dimensional form, a removable cover is placed on the adhesive strip 42.

Housing 16 includes a support system 44 formed from the sheet 22 which rotatably supports the yarn ball 14, i.e., it allows the yarn ball 14 to rotate during dispensing of yarn therefrom, and is constructed to securely retain the yarn ball 14 in the interior of the housing 16. As such, the yarn ball 14 cannot roll away from the knitter as yarn is being dispensed upon rotation of the yarn ball 14.

Support system 44 includes male flaps 46 extending from side edges of the top and bottom panels 30, 32 and cooperating female flaps 48 extending from side edges of the front and rear panels 26, 28. Fold lines 50 are formed between the flaps 46, 48 and the respective panel 26, 28, 30, 32 to allow the flaps 46, 48 to be folded inward into the interior of the housing 16.

Male flaps 46 each include a base section 52 contiguous with the respective side edge of the top or bottom panel 30, 32, an arcuate support edge 54 and side edges 56 between the base 52 and the arcuate support edge 54. Side edges 56 taper inward in a direction from the base 52 to the arcuate support edge 54, and each includes a projection or tab 58.

Female flaps 48 each include a base section 60 contiguous with the respective side edge of the front or rear panel 26, 28, a support edge 62 and side edges 64 between the base 60 and the support edge 62. Support edge 62 has an arcuate support portion 66. Side edges 64 are stepped outward in a direction from the base 60 to the support edge 62 and define a small triangular space with adjoining side edges 56. Fold lines 68 are formed in sheet 22 as a continuation of the fold lines 24 between the panels 26, 28, 30, 32 to thereby enable the formation of positioning flaps 70. Slots 72 are formed in the female flaps 50 and dimensioned to receive the tabs 58 of the male flaps 46.

Handle 18 includes retaining sections 74 at its ends separated from a hand-grip section 76 by narrow intermediate sections 78.

Guide panel 20 includes a pair of slots 80 through which the handle 18 passes with the retaining sections 74 being situated under the guide panel 20 to thereby hinder removal of the handle 18 from engagement with the housing 16 (see FIG. 3).

Yarn ball 14 is preferably made of a spherical core 82 onto which a length of yarn 84 is wound. Core 82 may be made of Styrofoam or a similar material, and may be solid or hollow depending on the material from which it is made. The diameter of the core 82 and length of yarn 84 wound thereon can be selected relative to one another to provide the yarn ball 14 with a diameter which fits within the confines of the space defined by the support edges 54 of the male flaps 46 and the arcuate portions 66 of the support edges 62 of the female flaps 48.

A small length of yarn 84, e.g., 2-3 inches, is threaded through the yarn guide member 36 to allow for immediate dispensing of the yarn 84 from the ball 14.

Preferably, device 10 is designed to provide an initially small space between the outer surface of the ball 14 and the support edges 54, 62 of the male and female flaps 46, 48 to allow the ball 14 to rotate immediately upon use. As yarn 84 is unwound from the ball 14 and passes through the yarn guide member 36 to the knitter, the size of the ball 14 shrinks thereby increasing the space between the outer surface of the ball 14 and the support edges 54, 62. Nevertheless, the ball 14 can still retained by the support edges 54, 62 in the interior of the box 12 by, for example, appropriate dimension of the core 82.

There are several different ways to assemble device 10. One way would be to first form display box 12 from the housing 16, handle 18 and guide panel 20 in an only partially complete form. Formation of the housing 16 requires folding the sheet 22 about fold lines 24, removal of the removable cover from the adhesive strip 42 on tab 40 and pressing of the adhesive strip 42 on the tab 40 against the inner surface of the bottom panel 32 such that the rear edge of the bottom panel 32 and rear face of the rear panel 28 substantially align with one another (see FIG. 2). Guide panel 20 is positioned against the inner surface of the top panel 30, either before of after the sheet 22 is folded. The retaining section 74 at one end of the handle 18 is then twisted to fit through the slot 38 in the top panel 30 and through a respective slot 80 in the guide panel 20 which partially aligns with the slot 38, and then straightened out to the position shown in FIG. 3. The other retaining section 74 of the handle 18 is similarly passed through the other slot 80 to be engaged with housing 16.

Female flaps 48 are folded inward about fold lines 50 while the projecting flaps 70 are folded outward about fold lines 68. One set of male flaps 46 on one side of the housing 16 is then folded inward about fold lines 50 and the tabs 58 on the male flaps 46 are each urged into a respective, aligning slot 72 on the female flaps 48. With one set of male flaps 46 engaged with the female flaps 48, positioning flaps 70 alongside the bottom panel 32 lie against the inner surfaces of the bottom panel 32 (see FIG. 5). Positioning flaps 70 alongside the top panel 30 serve to retain the guide panel 20 against the top panel 30 (see FIG. 3). The other set of male flaps 46 is not engaged with the female flaps 48 at this stage.

Once formation of the housing 16 has reached this stage, the yarn ball 14 can be placed into the housing 16 to rest against support edges 54, 62 defined by the inwardly folded male and female flaps 46, 48. The loose end of the yarn 84 is threaded through the yarn guide member 36. The other set of male flaps 46 is then folded inward with the tabs 58 on the male flaps 46 each being urged into a respective slot 72 on the female flaps 48. Thereafter, the yarn ball 14 is entirely supported by support edges 54, 62 defined by the male and female flaps 46, 48.

It is pointed out that although the support edges 54, 66 above the yarn ball 14, i.e., upper support edges, would not provide support to the yarn ball 14 when the display box 12 is placed with its bottom panel 32 on a horizontal surface, they confine and limit rotational movement of the yarn ball 14 and aid in maintaining the yarn ball 14 in the display box 12. Moreover, since the orientation of the display box 12 may change during use, all of the support edges 54, 66 may at some time be situated under the yarn ball 14 and therefore support the yarn ball 14.

In use, the free end of the yarn 84 outside of the display box 12 is pulled causing the yarn ball 14 to rotate on some support edges 54, 62 of the male and female flaps 46, 48 and yarn 84 to be dispensed from the yarn ball 14. Although the size of the yarn ball 14 decreases upon use, the yarn ball 14 will continuously be supported by at least some of the support edges 54, 62 of the male and female flaps 46, 48. Moreover, the yarn ball 14 will be prevented from falling out of the interior of the display box 12 in view of the presence of the support edges 54, 62 entirely around the yarn ball 14.

Although the above description mentions use of the retaining and dispensing device 10 for retaining and dispensing a yarn ball 14, it is contemplated that the retaining and dispensing device 10 can be used to retain and dispense balls of other filaments and filament-like materials. Such balls may be similar to yarn ball 14 described herein, i.e., filament wound around a core of a different material, or may be made entirely of filament, i.e., without a core. Furthermore, it should be understood that the display box 12 can be used to rotatably retain other types of balls and its described use for retaining a ball of filament does not limit the possible uses thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, a second embodiment of a retaining and dispensing device 86 in accordance with the invention is substantially the same as retaining and dispensing device 10, and thus the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements, with the main exception being that a different yarn guide member is used. Retaining and dispensing device 86 includes a display box 88 having a yarn guide member 90 positioned in a key-hole shaped slot in the front panel 92 of sheet 94. Yarn guide member 90 may be a plastic grommet having a key-hole shape approximately corresponding to the shape of the slot in the front panel 92, and has smooth inner surfaces to prevent snagging and fraying of the yarn as it passes therethrough.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A filament retaining and dispensing device, comprising: a substantially spherical ball comprising a length of filament; and a box for rotatably retaining said ball to enable said ball to rotate upon dispensing of said filament from said ball, said box including a first aperture through which said filament passes during dispensing of said filament from said ball.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said box has a plurality of connected panels including a front panel, a rear panel opposite said front panel, a top panel connected to upper edges of said front and rear panels and a bottom panel opposite said top panel and connected to lower edges of said front and rear panels, said first aperture being formed in said front panel.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said box includes support means connected to side edges of said panels for supporting said ball.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said support means comprise male flaps extending from side edges of two opposed ones of said panels and female flaps extending from side edges of two other opposed ones of said panels, said female flaps including slots and said male flaps including tabs each extending through a respective one of said slots.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said male and female flaps define support edges on which said ball is rotatably supported.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein said ball is provided with a predetermined length of filament such that an outer periphery of said ball is substantially tangent to inner surfaces of said rear, top and bottom panels.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein said front panel includes a second aperture separate from said first aperture and through which said ball is viewable.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said ball comprises a spherical foam ball, said filament being wound around said foam ball.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said box includes a guide member defining said first aperture.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said guide member defines a circular aperture.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein said guide member has a key hole-shape.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein said box includes a handle.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein said filament is yarn.
 14. A display box for a ball of filament, comprising: a plurality of connected panels including a front panel, a rear panel opposite said front panel, a top panel connected to upper edges of said front and rear panels and a bottom panel opposite said top panel and connected to lower edges of said front and rear panels; and support means connected to side edges of said front, rear, top and bottom panels for rotatably supporting the ball of filament; said front panel having a first aperture for enabling viewing of the ball of filament and a second aperture separate from said first aperture and through which the filament passes.
 15. The display box of claim 14, further comprising a guide member arranged on said front panel and defining said second aperture.
 16. The display box of claim 15, wherein said guide member is a grommet.
 17. The display box of claim 15, wherein said guide member defines a circular aperture.
 18. The display box of claim 14, further comprising a handle arranged in connection with said top panel.
 19. The display box of claim 14, wherein said support means comprise male flaps extending from side edges of two opposed ones of said panels and female flaps extending from side edges of two other opposed ones of said panels, said female flaps including slots and said male flaps including tabs each extending through a respective one of said slots.
 20. The display box of claim 19, wherein said male and female flaps define support edges for supporting the ball of filament. 